**Siesta Celebration is January 20-21, 2012**
Hey, Sweet Things!
Finally, August 1st! I’m always so glad to see it come so that it can GO. But it’s not just the end of a long, hot summer for everybody. It’s also the last couple of weeks of summer vacation. Those of you with school-age children will soon find yourself back in carpool lines and going over spelling words. In just a couple of weeks, Jackson will start kindergarten and will catch our whole family by surprise even though we’ve known it was coming for five and a half years. We just cannot fathom it. We have a picture framed in our bedroom that I see everyday with Keith and I cuddling him between us when he was just a few hours old, and we brand-spanking-new grandparents are kissing over his head. Something was reborn in that couple of 25+ years that day. Our interests have always tended to be different and were getting increasingly so, but, that cold February afternoon in Dallas, Texas, we somersaulted right back into one another and tumbled into a well of love with a seven pound man-child.
Keith and I got to have Jackson and Annabeth Friday night while Curtis and Amanda went to dinner and a movie. They’d been gone for 10 days to Wyoming and, even though we’d seen them at a Mexican food restaurant the day they got home, we’d not had them to ourselves yet. We made a date right away. They delight us to no end and cause us to laugh until our sides split. Don’t get the idea there’s no work involved but investments don’t get better than this one. We have real, live conversation over dinner these days and, when you’re grandparents, not a single word gets wasted on you. All of it’s solid gold. Jackson told us at the dinner table Friday night while stuffing a piece of warm French bread into his mouth that butter is his “temptutation.” And, sure enough, it was dripping off of his chin and looked so good that we all shared that same temptutation and gave right on in to it.
We have an empty room in our house right now because we wanted Melissa and Colin to have her bedroom furniture and it’s turned into the perfect playroom. Nothing like an empty room to fire up the imagination. Jackson and I built an obstacle course Friday night that ended with a dizzying spin in my swiveling desk chair. It was so much fun. Amanda and Curtis walked through the door at 10:15 and we were all four still up in the kitchen, Paw Paw popping popcorn on the stove. It’s so good to have the Jones’s home. Melissa and Colin have been out of town for a week, too, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on them. They’re flying home from California this very moment. Most of the time they were out of cell phone range so we’ll have plenty to catch up on.
On to the business at hand! Our year is flying by! It’s time to check in with our fifteenth verses for our Siesta Scripture Memory Team. For some reason I’ve seen the word “gentleness” turn up a number of times in my Scripture reading lately so I’ve decided to choose a memory verse that makes especially important use of it. Here goes:
Beth, Houston. “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.” Galatians 6:1 The NET Bible
Restoration is one of the most powerful, intentional works of the Cross of Christ. Let’s never refuse anyone his or her right to be restored. Here’s to a little gentleness in a harsh world. Everyone could use some.
Stay in the Word, Siestas! You are so loved here!
Jan
Bemus Point, NY
Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV)
5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
And in French:
Psaume 16:5-6 (Colombe)
5L’Éternel est mon partage et ma coupe ;
C’est toi qui assures mon lot ;
6Ma part me revient en (un lieu de) délices ;
C’est un héritage magnifique pour moi.
How wonderful that you are learning the French, too! These were my 3rd verses of the year, but I had not looked at the French. “Un lieu de delices” and “un heritage magnifique” – vraiment magnifiques! Merci beaucoup, Jan.
Elaine, New Orleans, Louisiana
“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a [wo]man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28
OH, my …ouch and amen!
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” -Psalm 32:8 (NASB)
Kelly Watson (Greer, SC)
Cheryl Adams
Hephzibah, Ga.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
Vickie, Poplar Bluff, MO:
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Dawn, Orland Park, IL
“The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; His ears are open to their cries for help.” Psalm 34:15 (NLT)
“Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
~ Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)
Suzanne, Harrisville, RI
Isaiah 55:12 NIV
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you; the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Laurie, Gibsonville, NC
“Understand (this) my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God” James 1:19-20 The AMP BIBLE
Laurie,
I had this for my verse earlier in the year. With 2 little ones I have literally had to breathe this verse in and out! It’s been a life-saver. Hope it is for you too!
Missi, Walker, LA: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 NIV84)
Joyce
Sparta, NJ
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:14-15 (ESV)
Dawn
Hamilton, NJ
Continuing with the same two verses as last time:
Thus says the Lord: Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work shall be rewarded says the Lord; and [your children] shall return from the enemy’s land. And there is hope for your future, says the Lord; your children shall come back to their own country. (Jeremiah 31:16 AMP)
LOVE this!
Jayma, Ft Wayne, IN
This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” -Psalm 91:11-12 NIV
Tracey from Shawnee, Kansas
Galatians 5:24 (NIV)
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Jan
Hawkinsville, GA
James 3:18 (NLT)
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
May it be in my life sweet Jesus. Amen.
Glenda, Tualatin
Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.
Psalm 31:19
Κοινωνείτω δὲ ὁ κατηχούμενος τὸν λόγον τῷ κατηχοῦντι ἐν πᾶσιν ἀγαθοῖς. Gal 6.6, NA27
Michele
Liverpool, NY
Katherine, Lilburn Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Jocelyn (Greer/Greenville SC)
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
1 John 4:7 NLT … let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
Wichita Falls, TX
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV
Kim, Poplar Bluff, MO. “You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (TEV)
Stacie, Livonia, MI
…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn
Isaiah 61:2 NIV
Chrissy, Clemmons, NC:
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18, NIV (84)
Deuteronomy 28:2 (NIV)
All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God.
Tammy,
Lusby, Maryland
Bridget, Cadillac, MI
Always be full of Joy in the LORD. Philippians 4:4
Lisa D.
Van Buren, AR
Revelation 2:7
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
NIV
Jennifer, Avon Park, FL
Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Colossians 3:15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
I Corinthians 10:23 “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive.
Inez Barnes
Hamburg AR
NIV
Why are you down in the dumps dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God –
Soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He is my God.
Psalm 43:5 The Message
Sandra, Swainsboro,GA
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perservance,
character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:2-5 NIV
Melissa, Naju, South Korea
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 ESV
Carmen, Knoxville
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Barb, Des Moines
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:8-10(NIV)
Jane, Milton, GA
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV
Susan – Maynard, MA
Psalm 73:26 – NLT
“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
I choose this verse for my June 15 verse but I really like your version better. Mine was the ESV version.
Leslie
Wisner, LA
(I chose a two-verse passage last time and so I’m stretching it over this time too!)
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6
Mary Kay
Fulshear, Texas
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15
NASB
Lexington, KY
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4 NIV
Andrea Overland Park, KS
“In the west they’ll fear the name of God, in the east they’ll fear the glory of God, For he’ll arrive like a river in flood stage, whipped to a torrent by the wind of God.”
Isaiah 59:19
MSG
Connie, Reidville, SC
“Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?”
Ezekiel 18:23, NKJV
Kristin, Jacksonville, AL. “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV
Michelle, Houston “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life – ” Philippians 2:14-16, NIV 1984 (Thanks Beth, I so needed that verse!)
“For Thou, O Lord, art my rock & my fortress; therefore for Thy Name’s sake lead me & guide me.” Ps. 31:3 KJ
(None but Jesus!)
Anne, Minneapolis
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8, NIV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6,7 (ESV)
Kelly
Avon Park, FL
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV